To Meth Hell and Back: County Program Rescues Children From Drug-Dens

In the 13 years since the county created the Drug Endangered Children program, 5191 children have been removed from drug-dominated households.

"Thanks to [the Drug Endangered Children program], law enforcement officers no longer have to change dirty diapers. They don’t have to comfort screaming and traumatized babies or transport them in the back of a police car, further adding to their distress," was the announcement from county supervisor Dianne Jacob's office.

Now, when law enforcement agencies raid households and find children present they call the Drug Endangered Children team, which then calls a social worker to the scene.

The number of children taken from "meth hell" and other drug dens because of the program has increased dramatically since 2008; that year, when celebrating the tenth year of the program, Jacob and other county officials praised the program for rescuing 2276 children in ten years. In three years, that number has more than doubled.